The Ogmios Genre Guide, part V – Subtypes of Superheroes

The Ogmios Genre Guide

Part V – Subtypes of Superheroes

superhero soo`per-hee`ro n.
A figure, especially in a comic strip or cartoon, endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime.

(Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)

FOUR COLORED SUPERHEROES

Characteristics
The heroes are not only omnipotent, they are better than normal men in any conceivable way. Not only do they demonstrate superior strength, speed, toughness and other extraordinary abilities, they are also the role models of superior courage, honor, compassion and ethics.

Typical Conventions
Heroes are Omnipotent

Superheroes are truly superior. They are usually not only super-powered, but simply better than anyone else in virtually everything.

But Villains are Omnipotent Too

Since the heroes are so outrageously powerful, the villains need to incredibly powerful too. Usually, the fight would be on equal terms, and the hero would prevail only thanks to his courage and sense of commitment.

Or Painfully Mundane

On the other hand, omnipotent heroes often do battle with villains which are undoubtedly less powerful than themselves. These villains often rely not on on technology to mimic our hero’s powers, but also on dirty trickery such as taking the hero’s loved ones hostage, manipulating public opinion, etc.

Really High Stakes

Such powerful heroes would not be challenged by petty criminals. These heroes often need to fight to save the entire world, or at least the entire city they are sworn to protect.

Black vs. White

The rules of the genre dictate a clean cut between good and evil. The heroes are good, the villains are bad. No shades of gray are allowed here, only pure white and pitch black.

The Hero is Publicly Accepted

Since the line between heroes and villains is so clear cut, it is easy for the public to identify the hero and to admire him. Often, these heroes work alongside the police and the armed forces.

The Hero’s Identity is a Secret

Our hero, albeit omnipotent must keep his true identity a secret lest his friends and family be attacked by his enemies. Only a select few individuals know this secret, usually being his partners, not his closest friends (and especially not his significant other)

The Universe
Strongly benevolent. The hero may face supposedly insurmountable odds, but will always emerge victorious in the end, not only in his battles against super-powered space monsters out to destroy the world, but also in his personal life.

Examples
DC’s Superman, first and foremost. Most other heroes of the comics’ Golden Age – The Green Lantern, Thor, Captain America, etc. Valiant’s Solar

DARK SUPERHEROES

Characteristics
Dark and dismal cities are the perfect setting for these breed of superheroes. No brightly colored tights and flying over the city for these gritty heroes – just back allays and sewers. These heroes are as violent as the criminals they hunt, and more often than not twice as scary.

Typical Conventions
Low Power Level

These heroes are only slightly superhuman, if at all. More often than not these heroes rely on their skills and experience to best their opponents.

Haunting Past

These heroes didn’t wake up one morning, discover they were superhuman and set out to save the world. They often suffered some terrible injustice in their past and are bent on a mission of revenge.

Evil We Are, Lest Evil We Become

These heroes are usually disillusioned from the judicial system. Either dirty money can buy anyone’s freedom or there may not be any prison strong enough to hold the supervillains they bring to justice. These heroes use the villains techniques against them and are no strangers to intimidation, battery, maiming, torture and sometimes even murder. An interesting twist on this notion is that the hero’s powers are truly of an evil source (demonic deal, stolen technology, etc.).

The Hero is Not Publicly Accepted

Because such a thin line separates heroes from villains in this genre, the hero is usually as feared and hated as the villains he hunts. More often than not, he his also wanted by the police.

The Universe
Hostile. When it rains stones, it seems like it never stops raining. Not only is the hero hunted by various superpowered opponents, but he must also deal with his personal life breaking apart all while fighting to protect a public that often fears and hates him.

Examples
DC’s Batman was probably the character who started this genre. Other characters include all of Batman’s subtitles, DC’s The Shadow, Marvel’s The Punisher and Image’s Shadowhawk, Spawn and Darkness

TEEN SUPERHEROES

Characteristics
Having superpowers is like, not as cool as it looks, you know? I mean, it’s pretty neat to be able to fly up to the basket and slam-dunk, but it ain’t all fun and games. We got issues too, OK? School, and puberty, and parents, and peer-pressure is like a lot to deal with and stuff.

Typical Conventions
Teen Superheroes

The superheroes are teenagers, faced with all the problems teenagers in the real world face – school, discovering their puberty, sexual angst, peer pressure, the works.

No One Understands Me

Added to the typical teenager notion that “no one understands me” is the fact that out hero has superpowers. truly, no one can understand him.

Superpowers as a Metaphor of Maturing

Out hero usually only developed his powers when entering puberty. These powers are often a Metaphor not only for the physical changes he goes through, but also for the mental change he must face – stepping into the adult world and learning the meaning of responsibility.

The Universe
Slightly benevolent. Odds may seem overwhelming at some point (like most teenagers feel at some point or other in their life), but at the end everything usually turns out to the best.

Examples
Marvel’s Generation-X. DC’s Superboy. Image’s DV8. Malibu’s Prime. Most of Marvel’s Ultimate line. To some extent, Marvel’s Spiderman

SUPERHEROIC GROUPS

Characteristics
The time when one hero could save the day single-handedly has passed. The world faces greater threats that can only be faced by the diversity and cooperation of many heroes combining their efforts.

Typical Conventions
Diversity of Powers

The heroes have joined together since no single one of them could prevail alone. Usually their powers are radically different (albeit commonly from a mutual source such as mutantcy, alien origin, divine gift, etc.) and often complete each other.

Diversity of Backgrounds

The heroes are drawn together from the four corners of the globe. They often exhibit diverse ethnical, social and ideological backgrounds.

A Lone Wolf

Most creations in this genre have one character who is part of the group, but not really a part of it. A loner who prefers his solitude to the overbearing constant presence of his fellow team-mates. However, he is a valued member of the team, and would gladly give his life to saves theirs.

Together We Stand

Once every so now and then, one of the team-mates would venture out on a personal mission (usually, a personal revenge or a personal debt which must be paid off). He will get himself knee-deep in trouble, until ultimately being saved by his fellow team-mates.

The Universe
Varies, but usually not too hostile.

Examples
Marvel’s X-Men, and its many spin-off groups (X-Force, X-Factor, Excalibur, Generation-X). DC’s Justice League of America and Legion of Super Heroes. Image’s Wild C.A.T.S and Newmen

FUNNY SUPERHEROES

Characteristics
Whimsical, pun-filled adventures playing on the conventions of other subgenres. The heroes, although likeable, may well be inept or stumble footed, to increase the irony.

Typical Conventions
Anything for a Laugh

No situation is too contrived if it leads to a nice pun, usually involving private jokes of those who know the genre well.

Heroes are Ridiculously Powerful

The hero is omnipotent to a ridiculous level. He could lift an entire planet, compress matter to a degree it starts the process of nuclear fusion and leap across entire cities.

Or Pathetically Powerless

On the other hand, a hero could be pathetically powerless, always fantasizing about the powers “real” heroes should have.

Anti-Heroes

Regardless of his power-level, the hero is a prime example of all the personality flaws a real super-hero should not have.

The Universe
Quite strongly benevolent, or else amusingly capricious – whatever would be funnier.

Examples
The Mask. The Tick. The Pro. The Incredible Super-Friends segments on Dexter’s Lab. Calvin and Hobbes strips featuring Stupendous Man. DC Comics’ Impulse

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